Land Acknowledgment
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the unceded traditional territory of the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K'omoks First Nations. We honour the presence and power of these First Nations, and all other First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples whose territories we reside on and we thank them for their grace and tolerance.
Message from the Executive Director
Starting like any other year, Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North was poised to serve eight more families in 2020, repeating on our success of 2019.
And then, everything changed.
As the pandemic set upon us in Mid-March we shut everything down--ReStores, offices, and build sites. Uncertainty was the dominant feeling. Slowly, we emerged, masks on, no hugs, and with fear but also with hope. Scientists began their work of developing a vaccine, and we started building again. I did honestly not envision such a successful year for Habitat, but we emerged stronger than ever with a team focused on delivering more homes for local families.
Volunteerism was reduced due to increased safety protocols, but our construction teams and a core group of volunteers worked tirelessly to make homes happen. In spite of many obstacles, not only did we complete four homes for local families, we also fostered new partnerships, created an Online ReStore, gained new relationships with construction companies, and reinvented our fundraising platforms with a successful #BidtoBuild Online Auction. Our Matching Donation Campaign was the largest in our history.
The generosity of our community became abundantly clear. From the many local businesses that eagerly donated to our auction, to the monthly donors whose recurring donation of $5 to $100 provided us with much-needed stability, to COVID-relief funding from several local organizations, you were there for us when we needed you most.
When I think about resiliency, I think about our team. We faced adversity all year and stood so strong. Our Board of Directors continued to build a strategy and stayed laser-focused to ensure their fiduciary responsibility to the charity.
Thank you to the core group of volunteers who stuck with us through the pandemic and thank you to the new volunteers who have found time in their lives to give back.
Thank you to everyone for supporting each other in one of the most challenging times we will face as humanity. Thank you for your commitment to our mission of bringing communities together to help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership. As I pass the torch to another leader in 2021, I am thankful for the opportunity I had to lead this charity, for the relationships I have made, and for all of you who continue to support Habitat. Thanks for giving me a hand up.
Pat McKenna, Executive Director
Photo by Karen McKinnon
Message from the Board Chair
This is my last update as Chair of Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North as my term has completed. It comes at a time of transition as our Executive Director, Pat McKenna, has decided to move closer to family in Nova Scotia. Habitat VIN has grown up a lot during Pat’s tenure; great job, Pat. Bill Wright is the incoming chair of the board, and he is heading up the hiring of a new Executive Director. I am confident the new leadership partnership will enable Habitat VIN to serve even more families.
2020 tested our resiliency and resolve as we battled through the pandemic. We finished up the Hilchey project in Campbell River and the Lake Trail project in Courtenay. 21 families now have a safe, stable place to call home. These have been our biggest projects to date and we could not have done it without the help of our donors, volunteers, and staff. Habitat has two more projects ready to build in Courtenay and Campbell River and we expect to start them soon. Special shout out to the unsung heroes at our two ReStores. They are among the most successful stores in Canada and without them Habitat would not be able to serve many families. The ReStores had to develop new safe procedures to accept donations and make sales; all done with aplomb.
The pandemic also highlighted the need for affordable housing in our community and across Canada. Families value their own space. Habitat is needed more than ever. If you have read this far, you are a supporter of Habitat and are truly appreciated. Please help support the cause by supporting the entire affordable housing continuum. Donate, volunteer, advocate.
Last, but not least I want to thank our board members past and present who have given up evenings and some weekends to govern, guide and oversee the operations of Habitat Vancouver Island North.
John Newman, Former Board Chair of Habitat VIN
Virtual Key Ceremony
When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, organizations around the world were forced to adapt quicker than they ever thought possible. For Habitat Vancouver Island North, that meant finding a way to safely get two families into their newly built duplex — and celebrate their long journeys to get there.
The traditional key celebration we had planned was quickly replaced with a "virtual key ceremony.” Volunteers, staff, and fellow homeowners submitted videos from the safety of their home congratulating the families, and the two families offered their gratitude in return.
Video edited by Clementine Bardonner
Temwa's Story
Temwa is a single mom to four children. Before partnering with Habitat, she was paying over 80% of her income towards rent.
"It seemed like no matter how hard I worked or tried to advance myself academically, I was never able to 'get ahead.' Our rental situation was a source of constant stress that never really felt like home. Now, home is a place where our family can share, experience, and grow together."
“My mom's hard work is really inspirational. She works a long hard job every day and then she would volunteer at the ReStore or on the build site just to get her house done for her kids.” - Jaiden, Temwa's oldest son
Photo by Karen McKinnon
"My dream was to provide a comfortable, healthy, and happy future for my family. Thanks to Habitat’s affordable homeownership program, I can do just that. My whole family is grateful to the volunteers, sponsors, and donors who have been part of this journey and helped make our dream a reality." - Temwa
Photo by Karen McKinnon
Our Two ReStores
601,389 pounds diverted from the landfill through metal recycling
15,839 donation drop-offs
1,324 donation pick ups
The pandemic caused our stores to close for over two months, so we adapted by going virtual! Our Online ReStore allowed shoppers to continue to source great ReStore finds from the safety and comfort of home.
Meaning of Home Writing Contest
Local student won $10,000 for local Habitat projects
The Meaning of Home is a national writing contest in support of Habitat for Humanity Canada that asks students in Grade 4, 5 and 6 to share what home means to them. Over 10,200 students entered the 2020 Meaning of Home contest, and Comox student Alice Hopkins was one of three Grade 5 runners up. She won a $10,000 grant that went towards our local affordable housing projects.
“The Meaning of Home contest gives something for people to work together on. Even if they don’t win, they are making a difference together,” said Alice, noting that she knew every entry to the contest would result in a donation to Habitat.
Photo by Karen McKinnon
#BidtoBuild Online Auction
Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and bidders, our first annual #BidtoBuild Online Auction exceeded expectations. It raised over $25,000, making it one of our most successful fundraising initiatives to date.
"We weren’t sure if businesses would be able to donate, and we weren’t sure if people would be open to bidding. The overwhelming support we received from the community was emotional for everyone on our team.” – Pat McKenna, Habitat VIN’s Executive Director
Awards
Not-for-Profit Award - Comox Valley Chamber Awards
Housing Innovation Award - Habitat for Humanity Canada HOMES Awards
Community Builder Award (Pat McKenna, our Executive Director) - Comox Valley Record Local Heroes Awards
Nominated for Community Spirit, Diversity Leadership, Excellence in Workforce Development, and Not-for-Profit Awards - Campbell River Chamber Awards
Kiley and Adam's Story
The COVID-19 pandemic made it abundantly clear just how important a safe and stable home is for all Canadians, but particularly for children.
With the school closures at the beginning of 2020, a safe and stable home gives children more opportunity to succeed while learning from home. This year, Marley and Izzy each have their very own rooms, where they can do homework and study in peace and quiet.
But that wasn't always the case. Last year, Marley and Izzy would have been crammed together at the kitchen table in their old one-bedroom apartment.
Four years ago, their mother Kiley was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. She spent four months in hospital being treated and going through intense rehabilitation. In that time, her landlords sold the house her family had been renting for five years. The new landlords were going to double the rent to keep up with rapid changes in the housing market.
A counsellor Kiley was seeing told her about Habitat for Humanity. After being accepted as a Habitat family, Kiley and her family volunteered for 500 hours and were able to purchase their home through Habitat’s affordable mortgage program. Now, Kiley and her family are living in their very own home, building connections with their new neighbours and within their new community.
“This will not only be a house to us. It’ll be much, much more. It’ll be a safe space, a sanctuary, a love nest, a fun house, and a space for all of us to live and thrive in.” - Kiley
Marisa's Story
From volunteer to Habitat homeowner
“I felt so discouraged in terms of ever being able to own a home,” says Marisa. “I was just kind of down a lot of the time, because I thought owning a home was something I was never going to be able to do, and then in comes Habitat. It’s like a dream come true.”
Marisa learned more about Habitat’s mission while volunteering with her colleagues as part of a Team Build Day on our build site.
“When the project manager was talking about who they build for I thought, hey, wait a minute — that’s me!” she says. At the time, she was living in a small apartment with her daughter, Nayeli, who had no space to play without disrupting their neighbours.
When she realized that Habitat provides working families like hers with a no down payment, affordable mortgage to help bridge the gap between rental and market housing, she thought she might have a shot. Her boss encouraged her to apply, so she gathered all of the necessary documents and met with their family services manager to answer questions. A few months later, she found two Habitat staff sitting in one of the meeting rooms at her office.
“I just knew right away and I started crying, and everyone congratulated me,” she says. “It was a moment I’ll never forget.” She’s now unpacking boxes in her new home, and despite what’s happening in the world around her, she’s feeling more confident in her ability to take on challenges.
“I feel so much more secure now. I know that whatever comes up in the future, we’ll be better prepared to manage.”
Photo by Karen McKinnon
What's Next
461 Hilchey Road, Campbell River
This will be our largest construction project yet, providing homes for twenty families in need of a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Construction is expected to start by the end of 2021 or beginning of 2022.
1375 Piercy Avenue, Courtenay
This is a 12-home project that will consist of three 4-unit townhomes, including two accessible single level living units. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held August 19, 2021, and construction will start fall 2021.
How You Can Help
Become a HopeBuilder
Monthly donations create a consistent and reliable source of support that keeps us building. We know that our donors who choose to give monthly care deeply about our mission of providing affordable homeownership to families, so we created the HopeBuilder Monthly Giving Program.
Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of Habitat for Humanity, and we wouldn’t be able to build homes or transform lives without their help. Join our team of volunteers by swinging a hammer, stocking shelves at ReStore, or helping out at our fundraising events, and give a hand up to local families. We gladly embrace individuals who have skill and experience or none at all.
Financial Accountability
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Shop our ReStores
Campbell River ReStore 1725B Willow Street, Campbell River | (250) 830-1493
Comox Valley ReStore 1755 13th Street, Courtenay | (250) 334-3784
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm
Habitat Office
877 5th Street, Courtenay, BC V9N 1K8
(250) 334-3777 | info@habitatnorthisland.com